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Devanahalli Fort

Treks, Forts And History: Drive To This Heritage Spot On The Outskirts Of The City

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If you want a day of history, heritage, temple exploring and a picnic in a fort, plan a road trip to the Devanahalli Fort that is just about an hour’s drive from town.

Fortified Fun

The only reason anyone takes that long trip to Devanahalli is to go to the airport or to take their new car/bike for a spin at 80kmph on the good read. But just about five kilometres before you hit the airport, is the Devanahalli Fort, a place steeped in rich heritage. And with a past dating the place back to the 15th century, it’s a place where you can get your history lessons in order.

Begin the day at the west-facing entrance that features elaborate plasterwork. A stone plaque takes you through the fort’s 500-year-old history and how the current oval-shaped fortification was done at the behest of Hyder Ali. Walk around the perimeters of the fort to truly get that feel of the architecture, and for some great photographs. You will see about 12 bastions at the fort too, so make sure you walk to the edge of them, and pretend to be a warrior looking through the gun points for the enemy. Be sure to climb up these bastions {some of them have steps, or climb the ruins for adventure} as they offer a brilliant view of the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway, and the sleepy township.

Legends And Temples

Before you enter the fort, just a minute’s walk, you will find a stone plaque and a large memorial marking the place as Tipu Sultan’s birthplace. If you ask the locals, they are sure to regale you with tales of yore and how within the fort are actual houses where Hyder Ali and Tipu stayed. To be taken with a pinch of salt, as they do glorify the story for the sake of drama!

When inside the fort, you will find a small township and temples dedicated to various Hindu deities. Large gopuras and elaborate stonework feature prominently on the walls and architecture of temples such as Venugopalaswamy Temple and Siddalingeshwara Temple. You can hit up the small hole-in-the-wall stores for a snack or a soft drink while you are exploring the place.

#LBBTip

Nandi Hills is en route to Devanahalli Fort, so you can make a day trip out of it.